happenings ten years time ago

Dunno where the weekend has gone. Spent most of yesterday driving around looking for bits for offspring no 2's new car. All these buggers who've moved to Brisbane in the last 9 (Note: not 10) years. Getting in my way. Lucky the new car's a turbo and gets around in quite a sprightly fashion. Couple of visits to the hospital to see the old man. Not good. Then today I hired a chainsaw to help render into firewood that which I could not do so with an axe. Here's an observation for you: pressing computer keys all week is not good training for using a chainsaw. I was knackered after about an hour, but I got to most of the wood that had proven axe-resistant. In fact I quite like chopping wood, but only when it's going well. There's nothing worse than a knotty bit where the axe just bounces off, but when it splits nicely it's almost as good as sex. Note I said 'almost'. This also applies to hitting a really good 3 wood. 'Almost'. Anyway now I ache from one end to the other and tomorrow will be worse. Must exercise more.

I caught about 30 seconds of Julie Bishop on TV this morning, giving Laurie Oakes part of the truth about the impending nuclear 'debate' by (in part) arguing that circumstances have changed since the secret 1997 Cabinet report on possible locations for reactors. Research reactors that is, not for power generation. As if. The only circumstance that has changed is the PM's conversion - in effect, if not in so many words - about global warming and the need to be seen to be doing something about it. I must say though that Bishop is a polished performer with a big future. She can tell part of the story (note: not 'lie') with a straight face and a clear eye, as distinct from her leader's sideways glances, circumlocution and dismissive air. God help us if she ever becomes PM.

Isn't it a shame that even when the government says it will do something that actually makes sense - in this case, sponsoring a debate - the automatic response is to not take it at its word. Quite dreadful. Taken us 10 years (note: not 9) to get to this stage. Well, not me, I got to this stage a while ago...